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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2014 GMC Acadia

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 462 safety complaints about the 2014 GMC Acadia with the US government. Of those, 15 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 17 people were injured and no death is recorded. 6 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 246 complaints, 53% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 59,500 miles, the median across the 206 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2014 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

462 complaints on file

462

Complaints

15

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

17

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints fell 44% year on year: 22 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 39 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
AIR BAGS 246 · 53%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 90 · 19%
ENGINE 45 · 10%
POWER TRAIN 34 · 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 29 · 6%
STEERING 26 · 6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 20 · 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 19 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 · 2%
STRUCTURE 8 · 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 · 2%
0 100 200

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 462.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 95.

100 75 50 25
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2014 GMC ACADIA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 15.5% 16.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

6 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

23V334000 · May 10, 2023

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.

General Motors, LLC · up to 995,085 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

21V246000 · April 8, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
The risk
Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

General Motors, LLC · up to 108 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

14V614000 · October 1, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
The risk
If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

General Motors LLC · up to 106,307 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS

14V266000 · May 20, 2014

The defect
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
The risk
If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
The remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

General Motors LLC · up to 1,339,355 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

14V223000 · April 30, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured March 26, 2013, through August 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel gauge to read inaccurately.
The risk
An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM to correct the fuel gauge reading, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14007.

General Motors LLC · up to 51,640 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

14V092000 · February 21, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
The remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

General Motors LLC · up to 355 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

2 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

EA20002

Closed engineering analysis · opened August 31, 2020 · closed August 30, 2024 · led to recall 21V245

the seat belts

On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The subject vehicles included model year (MY) 2009 through 2014 GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse SUVs as well as MY 2009 through 2010 Saturn Outlook SUVs. These vehicles were previously repaired for this defect under recall 14V-266. The subject vehicle population is approximately 1.3 million vehicles. Special Coverage N192219480, issued in June 2019, addressed the subject defect in vehicles that previously received the recall remedy repair for subject recall 14V-266. The Special Coverage allows for component replacement for 12 years or 180,000 miles from the initial sale date, whichever comes first. Special Coverage N192219480 instructed service technicians to inspect the driver’s seat belt anchor cable for any damage to the protective sleeve and if damage was observed, the cable was replaced with a new sleeve as well as a new closeout piece that relocated the cable to mitigate the subject condition. In view of the Special Coverage conducted by General Motors, the high detectability of the subject failure, and the low rate of occurrence, this Engineering Analysis is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. Please see the attached document “EA20-002 Detailed Closing Summary” for more a detailed closing resume summary.

Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

RQ19003

Closed recall query · opened May 28, 2019 · closed August 31, 2020

the seat belts

On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform) vehicles.The remedy was to inspect for signs of damage and replace pre-tensioner anchor cables as needed. Re-work was conducted to relocate the pre-tensioner anchor cable out of the occupant entry path. ODI has subsequently received four (4) Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQ) reporting anchor cable separations with no apparent warning in covered vehicles after the Recall 14V266 remedy had been applied.ODI opened RQ19-003 to assess the effectiveness of the actions GM took in Recall 14V266 and review the full warranty and complaint data related to seat belt anchor cable separations and replacements. ODI continues to receive occasional cable failure complaints both for the subject vehicles and other GM models and model years that have also been previously recalled addressing this condition.Although the cable separation complaint rate is very low, over the past three years ODI has received two (2) additional VOQ?s citing belt cable separations for Lambda platform vehicles outside the scope of recall 14V266, (11217092, 11118075) and complaints for other GM models covered in a number of similar Safety Recalls:* 15V269, 2011-12 Chevrolet Malibu (11181115, 11288168); * 16V209, 2014-15 Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500 (11254364, 10935183, 10953851, 11025376, 11282043, 11288701, 11309884); and * 16V518 2014-16 Caprice Police Pursuit, SS (10905644, 10990669, 11340893).ODI's review of GM's data confirms the low potential failure rate for the vehicles covered by recall 14V266. However, ODI believes that complainants may not recognize accumulating cable fatigue damage from the visual cues available in routine vehicle use.ODI is upgrading RQ19-003 to an Engineering Analysis to more closely assess seat belt conditions and strength levels in the field. This work will include the collection of seat belt samples from a wider range of recalled and peer vehicles for detailed analysis and testing.The ODI reports (VOQs) associated with this RQ19-003 can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 11144704, 11076704, 11185619, 11151922, 11164011, 10967518, 11113486, 11115648

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

POWER TRAIN

4 injured · crash · 10,000 miles

VEHICLE DROVE BACKWARDS OUT OF THE GARAGE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN PARK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND BACKED OUT IF THE GARAGE ON ITS ON, NO DRIVER WAS IN THE CAR. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS ANTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR MAILBOX IN WHICH BOTH WERE STRUCK. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WENT WRONG, LEANING INTO THE CAR PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. TURNED AROUND TO TALK TO MY SON AND WHEN I TURNED BACK AROUND I WAS CAUGHT BY THE DOOR. THE CAR DRAGGED ME DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ALSO MY SON WAS STRUCK BY THE CAR. I SUFFERED A CONTUSIONS TO MY RIGHT WRIST, KNEE AND LEG, BACK PAIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND CONTUSION TO THE RIGHT ANKLE. MY SON

NHTSA complaint 10644374, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

3 injured · crash · towed · 32,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 FOR AROUND AN HOUR WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT AND COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. THE ROAD WAS WET SO I DIDN'T WANT TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. I WAS TRYING AS HARD AS I COULD TO TRY AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT COULDN'T. I TAPPED THE BRAKES 2 TIMES AND THEN HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD OR I WOULD HAVE HIT OTHER VEHICLES. MY CAR STARTED SPINNING AND THEN CRASHED HEAD INTO THE GUARDRAIL. I HIT THE GUARD RAIL SO HARD IT RIPPED UP THE CONCRETE AND BOUNCED MY VEHICLE BACK INTO THE INTERSTATE. ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OVER AND WAS TRYING TO HELP ME GET MY CAR OFF THE INTERSTATE BUT NEITHER OF US COULD GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN. IT WAS STILL

NHTSA complaint 10888801, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · fire · crash · towed · 138,000 miles

The contact owned a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was avoiding crashing into another vehicle when the contact's vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that some good Samaritans assisted the contact in getting out of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was totaled when it crashed into a tree. In addition, the contact stated that within 5–10 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in fire. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that the vehicle was consumed in the fire. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The

NHTSA complaint 11726679, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 62,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 53 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB, A BRUISED HEART, LEFT THIGH, AND HIPS, A BROKEN LEFT ARM, AND CUTS AND LACERATIONS FROM THE GLASS INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint 10929987. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

178,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control, Stabili-Trak, and the air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the failure was associated with a recent air bag replacement recall repair. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer declined to inspect the vehicle. The contact was informed that the failure was not associated with the recall repair. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on the same day that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA

NHTSA complaint 11763026, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while in park(P), the vehicle rolled, requiring the driver to turn off and restart the vehicle, and the vehicle successfully shifted in park(P). Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle shut off, and the steering wheel and the wheels locked up. The contact was barely able to pull over to the side of the road, where the contact waited before restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the Check Engine warning light was recently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics, where several diagnostic

NHTSA complaint 11744114, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

On Sunday June 7, 2026 my husband drove our 2014 GMC Acadia to work. We both work at MSY - Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for United Airlines. After he parked in the employee garage that is located in at the old terminal and got on the employee shuttle, the passenger tail light sparked a fire. Airport operations responded with the fire department that is stationed at the airport.

NHTSA complaint 11743724. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Unknown

NHTSA complaint 11739189. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine randomly shuts off when driving for no reason. Will restart and check engine light comes on. Has now happened three times , twice to me in traffic. One of those the car went into a limp mode where it wouldn't drive above 30mph at most. This is very unsafe in the middle of highway traffic. The second happened approaching a traffic light , I put the car into neutral and luckily it restarted and check engine light came on. The third time my wife had her friends in the car and it shut off at a light , she had no idea what to do. I had her stay there and brought her our other car. I have read this is caused by a known fuse box issue. They should be made to fix this problem before someone

NHTSA complaint 11732023, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Acadia

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 9 1 —
2025 65 0 —
2024 61 0 —
2023 43 4 —
2022 49 3 —
2021 149 2 —
2020 105 6 —
2019 386 2 —
2018 396 2 —
2017 704 4 —
2016 236 4 —
2015 243 4 —
2013 135 3 —
2012 296 5 —
2011 269 5 —
2010 343 4 1

Other 2014 GMC models

Sierra 1500 739 Terrain 296 Sierra 101 Yukon 56 Sierra 2500 30 Sierra Denali 14 Yukon XL 11

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every GMC on this site — 149 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst